Multiple bundle vapor generator



j June 9, 1942. F. M's-CHER J 231 555 I MULTIPLE BUNDLE-VAPOR en n sau oa Filed 0c t 25, 1940 z Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ICK K. FFscHER.

j v (g, 0 'VzwM' ATTORNEY F. K. FISCHER v 2,285,651

; MULTIPLE BUNDLE VAPOR GENERATOR I Fmstvsmck KFlsciusiR. BY an,

Patented June 9, 1942 TE'NT OFFICE MULTIPLE BUNDLE VAPOR GENERATOR Frederick K. Fischer, Lansdowne, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 25, 1940,]Serial No. 362,827

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to vapor generators of the type wherein a medium contained in a receptacle is vaporized by heat derived from a second medium of higher temperature passing through tubes immersed in the first medium, more particularly to generators of this type wherein there are two or more tube bundles arranged in end-to-end relation, and has for its object the bowing of the tubes ofall of the bundles during operation to facilitate disengagement of scale therefrom.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided, together with the shell and multiplicity of tube bundles therein, means carried by the shell for limiting movement away from each other of the boxes of each bundle of tubes.

Where a plurality of tube bundles are arranged in end-to-end relation within an evaporator, it frequently is not sufiicient to fix the length of the bundles by restraining them against both ends of the shell as proposed in Patent No. 1,943,456, granted January 16, 1934 to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, for in that case the bundle whose tubes deflected first would deflect further to take up the expansion occurring in the remaining bundles, with the result that the tubes in said remaining bundles would not bow. This is due to the fact that the bowing of any set of tubes results from the force of expansion acting on a lever arm, which arm is the amount that the tubes are bower. Therefore, that bundle which is bowed first or most, has its resistance to deflection reduced almost in direct proportion to the amount it deflects.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a vapor generator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of the interlocking lugs 53 and 5! carried by the heads 27? and 30 (Fig. 1).

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, there is shown, in Fig. 1, an evaporator comprising a shell It} having end closures II and I2.

Medium to be vaporized is admitted to the interior of the shell through the inlet conduit i3 and the connecting, horizontally disposed conduit l4, provided with spray nozzles l5. Vapor generated within the shell is drawn off through the separator l6, which may be of any suitable construction'and forms no part of the invention herein disclosed. Suitable inlet and outlet connections, such as H and I8, respectively, may be provided for flushing out the shell,

A plurality of tube. bundles, for example, bundles 2| and 22, are positioned within the shell in end-to-end relation, the bundle 2| comprising a plurality of tubes 23, an inlet box 24 to which a suitable heating medium such as steam is supplied through the inlet opening 25 and conduit 26, and an outlet box 21 from which condensate collecting in the tubes is drained through the outlet conduit 28 to the hotwell 29.

In like manner,.the tube bundle 22 comprises a plurality of tubes 23 connected to an inlet box 3!! adapted to receive heating medium through the inlet 3| and conduit 32, the heating medium passing through the tubes 23 to the outlet box 33 from which the condensate is led to the hotwell 29 by means of the discharge conduit 34. Air and non-condensable gases collecting in the discharge boxes 21 and 33 are vented to the exterior of the shell through the conduits 35. While only two tube bundles are shown, the invention is applicable where three or even more bundles are arranged to end-to-end relation.

Suitable means, such as the intermediate tube support plates 35, are provided for bracing and spacing the tubes of each bundle. The ends of the. bundles are supported through brackets 38 upon the track structure 39 for longitudinal movement thereon.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided adjacent the outlet box 2'! of the tube bundle 2| suitable means for limiting longitudinal movement of the box 21 relative to the other box 24 of that bundle. In the arrangement herein illustrated, the restraining means comprises a pair of opposed lugs or channels 44 secured in any suitable manner, as by welding at 45, to the interior surface of the shell Ill. Preferably, the lugs are offset a short distance longitudinally from the tube plate 42 of the outlet box 21. A plurality of bolts 46 extend through aligned openings in the lugs 44 and tube plate 42, a plurality of nuts 4! cooperating therewith to rigidly secure the tube plate 42 with respect to the lugs. Obviously, the arrangement of threaded bolts 46 and nuts 4'! permits of adjustment of the tube plate and its associated box 21 longitudinally of the shell with respect to the lugs 44. Such an adjustment may be desirable because of variations in dimensions resulting from manufacturing tolerances.

It will be noted that the inlet box 24 of the tube bundle 2| is positioned relatively close to or in abutting relation to the shell end closure l2, whereby when expansion of the tubes 23 of the bundle 2| occurs, bowing of these tubes will result, due to the abutment against the cover 12 at one end and the anchorage at the other end by the lugs 44 and bolts 46.

Suitable means, such as the lugs 50 and 5| are secured to the boxes 21 and 30, respectively, and furnish abutting or interlocking means for these two boxes (Fig. 4).

While it will be apparent that the outlet box 33 of the tube bundle 22 may be arranged to abut against the shell enclosure II, it is preferred to provide duplicate anchorage comprising the lugs 44 and bolts 46 for the outlet end of this tube bundle also. Regardless of the nature of the anchorage for the box 33, the boxes of each bundle are limited as to their movement away from each other, whereby it is assured that each bundle will bow independently of the other.

Throughout the specification and claims, the terms outer, outward, inner and inward refer to position of movement relative to the longitudinal center of the shell.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In heat exchange apparatus; a shell; a plurality of tube bundles extending longitudinally of the shell and disposed in endto-end relation, each of said bundles comprising a plurality of tubes and boxes connected to the ends thereof; means at each end of the shell securing the box adjacent each end against movement toward said end; and means carried by the shell intermediate its length for limiting movement of one of the inner boxes away from the other box of its bundle, said inner boxes being disposed in abutting relationship.

2. In heat exchange apparatus; a shell; a plurality of tube bundles extending longitudinally of said shell and disposed in end-to-end relation, each of said bundles comprising a plurality of tubes and a pair of boxes connected to the ends thereof; covers closing the ends of the shell, one of said covers abutting the outer box of the tube bundle at that end of the shell and preventing outward movement of said box; means at the other end of the shell preventing outward movement of the outer box of the tube bundle at said other end of the shell; means secured to the shell for preventing inward movement of the inner boxes of said end tube bundles, said last-mentioned means comprising lugs secured to the inner wall of the shell adjacent one of said inner boxes and to which said one inner box is secured; and means disposed between and secru-ed to said inner boxes and serving to brace each of said inner boxes against the other.

3. In heat exchange apparatus; a shell; a pair of tube bundles extending longitudinally of said shell and disposed in endto-end relation, each of said bundles comprising a plurality of tubes and a pair of boxes connected to the ends thereof; means at the ends of the shell securing the outer boxes adjacent said ends against movement towards the ends; and means carried by the shell limiting movement of one of the two inner boxes away from its outer box, said inner boxes being disposed in abutting relationship.

4. A structure as specified in claim 4, wherein the last-mentioned means comprises lugs secured to the inside Wall of the shell adjacent one of the inner boxes and to which said one inner box is secured.

5. A structure as specified in claim 3,.wherein the last-mentioned means comprises a pair of opposed lugs secured to the walls of the shell interiorly thereof and to which one of the inner boxes is secured, and including interengaging lugs carried by the two inner boxes and providing for abutment of said boxes against each other in end-to-end relation.

FREDERICK K. FISCHER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,285,651. June 9, 19m.

' FREDERICK K. FISCHER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second colomn, line 52, for "arranged to" read arranged in-; and line 148, after "lugs" insert "M page-2, second column, line 55, claim 14., for

- in claim )4." read -in claim 5; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this hth day of August, A. D. l9LL2.

- Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

